Training apparatus for flying machine pilots



May 23, 1933. -H. G. TRAVER TRAINING APPARATUS FOR FLYING MACHINE PILOTSFiied Feb. 9, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 May 23, 1933. H. Q TRAVER 1,910,655

TRAINING APPARATUS FOR FLYING' MACHINE PILOTS Filed Feb. 9, 1931'sweets-sheep 2 May 23, 1933. H. G. TRAVER TRAINING APPARATUS FoR FLYINGMACHINE PILOTS Filed Feb. 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 filer/l Patented May23, 1933 UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY G. TRAVER, F BEAVER FALLS,PENNSYLVANIA TRAINING APPARATUS FOR FLYING MACHINE PILOTS Applicationfiled February 9, 1931. Serial No. 514,419.

'i0 the means is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a training device forglider pilots and aviators whereby the flying machine is subjected toal1 flying'conditions without the l possibility of the machine fallinglto the ground with consequent damage thereto and possible injury totheoperator caused by the inexperienced handling of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the device with means tolimit the upward movement of the flying machine to prevent possibleinterference with the travel of the movable support and damage thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to '25 provide means tocontrol the downward movement of the flying machine and prevent breakageof the same.

Another further object of the invention is to provide mounting meanswhereby the flying machine will assume an even keel position in thenormal position thereof.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a frame member pivotallysupported upon a movable support, such as a motor driven ground vehicle7to have movement toward and away from the vehicle in a vertical planeand adapted to releasably and universally carry a flying machine wherebythe frame will be lifted away from the vehicle under the influence ofthe lifting power of the flying machine and during the travel of thevehicle. Means vare connected between the pivoted frame and vehicle tovprevent the frame rising beyond a predetermined distance above thevehicle, and resilient means are mounted on the vehicle to engage andsupport the'pivoted frame and flying machine and limit the downwardmovement thereof relative to the vehicle.

i In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this applicationFigure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing the flying machinein normal or landing position. y

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the flying machine in operativeor flying position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the pivoted frame in raisedposition with the flying machine detached therefrom and also showing theupward and downward movement limiting means therefor.

Figure l is a perspective view of the flying machine supporting portionof the pivoted frame and showing the universal connection between theframe and flying machine. f

Figure 5 is an end elevation looking at the left of Figure lshowing asection of the flying machine supporting portion'of the pivoted frame indisconnected position.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the L'universal connection meansfor the flying machine on the support and showing the parts indisassembled relation.

Figure 7 is a detail viewof a connection between the main portion of thepivoted frame and the flying machine `supporting portion thereof. y

Figure 8 is a side view of the pivoted frame in the normal inoperativeposition and supported by resilient means of the vehicle frame.

Figure 9 isa cross sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8,looking in the direction of the arrows and showing a pair of resilientsupports for the engagement of the pivoted frame in the sub-normalposition thereof.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 8,looking in the direction of the arrows and showing flexible means tosupport the flying machine Y in the normal inoperative position thereof.

Figure 1l is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 8,looking in the direction of the arrows and showing resilient means tosupport the pivoted frame in the normal position thereof.

Figure 12 is a` fragmentary perspective view of the mounting end of thepivoted frame to show the mounting thereof on the vehicle frame.

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of means for limiting the lateral orbanking movements of the flying machine and showing particularlyyieldingly movable mounting means therefor.

Figure 14: is a View partly in section of the universal mounting andconnection between the flying machine and the pivoted frame, as shown inFigure 4l; and

Figure 15 is a perspective view, on.l an enlarged scale, of the means toconnect the flying machine to its pivoted supporting frame.

In the embodiment of the invention the type of flying machineillustrated in the drawings is a glider G of the usual construction, asshown in Figures 1 and 2, but it is to be understood that the object ofthe invention of this application is to train individuals in theoperation and control of all similar types of flying machines, such as amotor driven aeroplane, and does not relate to any one particular typeof machine. The glider G is elevated and maintained in flying positionthrough the forward travel of a movable support, in the presentinstance, a motor vehicle V having a frame portion of parallel sills 1Gof channel iron supported by and extended rearwardly from the chassis ofthe vehicle, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, in elusive.

The glider is supported on the vehicle sills 1G to have movement in avertical plane toward and away from the sills under the influence of airpressure created by the forward movement of the vehicle, by a framecomprising parallel members of tubular structure having main chordmembers 17 extending in straight parallel planes and reenforced by trussmembers 18 secured at the ends to the ends of the main members andextended to form triangles with the main members and struts 19 fixed toand arranged between the chord and truss members to further re-enforcethe structure of the frame members. The frame members are spaced apart adistance to extend outside the vehicle sills 16 by a cross member 2O ofangle iron fixed to the main member 17 by U members 21 embracing themain frame members and fastened at the ends to the cross-member byrivets, as shown in Figure 13. The frame is pivotally mounted on thevehicle sills to have movement toward and away therefrom in a verticalplane by a shaft 22 fixed t0 the frame members 17 by brackets 28 in theform of a pair of sleeve portions extending transversely of each other,one sleeve encircling the frame members 17 and the other sleeve engagedon the shaft 22, as shown in Figure 12, or the frame members 17 may beelectrically welded directly to the shaft with the ends of the shaftextended beyond the frame and rotatably engaged in bearing sleeves 211fixed to the forward ends of the vehicle sills 16, as shown in Figures 3and 8.

The pivotally mounted frame is adapted to support the glider G so thatthe same will extend partly` above and between said frame to have freemovement relative to the vehicle sills by providing a pair of standards25, 26 pivotally mounted on each frame member at the ends opposite tothe mounting ends of said members on the vehicle sills by bifureatedbrackets 27, 28 pivotally connected to the ends of the standards andfixed to the frame members by arranging the base of said brackets in theform of yokes with the yokes engaged above the frame trussmembers 18 andclamped thereto by U members 29 engaging the undersurface of the framemembers 17 by bolts passed through perforations in ear portions of saidyoke portions and U members, as indicated at 30 in Figures l and 5. Therear ends of the trusses 18 are thus connected to the members 17 by themembers 27 and 29. To prevent undue stress on the frame truss members 18they are supported adjacent the brackets 28 and U members 29 by braceblocks 81 interposed between the frame and truss members 17 and 18 inalinement with the clamping bolts 30. The ends of the standards 25, 2Gsupported by the frame are arranged as perforated bosses to pivotallyengage the bifurcations of the brackets 27, 28 and are retained thereinby pins engaged in perforations in said bifurcations and the bossperforations, as at 32. rlhe opposite upper ends of the standardsconverge toward each other and each pair 25, 26 of said standards arereleasably connected to each other by an angular plate 33` of pyramidalshape secured at the base portion thereof to the pair of standardscarried by the left hand frame members, as viewed in Figures 3 to 6,inclusive, with the free lateral edges of the leg portions adapted toextend in register with the outer sides of the right hand pair ofstandards and are releasably secured in such position by bolts 34engaged in perforations in the plate and said pair of standards toextend transversely of 'the standards. The right hand pair of standardsare connected in spaced relation to each other and the legs of the angleplate 33 by a plate 85 having the lateral sides tapering in an upwarddirection and fastened to the standards, as shown in Figure 6. The baseof the angular plate 33 is extended beyond the leg portions thereof withthe lateral edges thereof curved to embrace the standards to reenforcethe same, as shown at 36.

To mount and support the glider from the converging free `ends ofthestandards se that the operator or pilot may practice the Imanipulationof the controls for the ailerons ill.

Citi

A to laterally balance the glider and the elevators E to effectascending and descending movements of the glider, a universal mountingis provided comprising a bracket having bifurcations 37 and 38 onopposite sides thereof and extending transversely of each other, thelegs of the bifurcation 37 being spaced apart a distance slightlygreater than the width of the angular plate to engage over the legs ofsaid angular plate and pivotally connected thereto by a bolt 39 engagedin alined perforations in the` legs of said bifurcation 37 andperforations adjacent the top of leg portions of the angular plate 33.

The glider is adapted to be releasably and pivotally mounted in thebracket bifurcation 38 by a pair of clamping members shown as comprisingtwo parallel strips 40 of wood or other suitable material pivotallymounted midway of their ends between the legs of said bracketbifurcation 38 by a pin or bolt 41 engaged in alined perforations insaid bifurcation legs and clamping members, and to provide a longbearing` and to absorb any undue stress on said pivotal connection bowedmembers 42 con'iprising metallic strips are extended over the exteriorwalls of the bifurcation legs 38 and secured at the ends to the clampingmembers at opposite sides of said bifurcation legs by bolts 43 en*-gaged in the bowed and clamping members, as shown in Figure The clampingmembers i are connected to the glider by clamping frame members 44 ofthe glider extending in a vertical plane between said strips at theopposite ends thereof, as shown in Figure 15, by bolts 45 engaged in theclamp members at opposite sides of the frame members 44 and spacingblocks 46 which also prevent forward or backward movement of said framemembers of the glider between the clamp members 40.

rihe glider is also supported from the standards of blocks 47 of crossshape having one of the vertically extending legs inter'- posed andclamped between the clamping members 40 with the laterally extendinglegs abutting against vthe upper longitudinal edges of the clampingmembers. The upper legs of the blocks 47 extend between the wings orplanes 48 of the glider with the ends abutting against a horizontalframe member 49 extended between the wings of the glider, as shown inFigure 14.-

To further support the glider from the clamping members 40, straps 50are extended about the frame member 49 of the glider and fastened at theends to the opposite clamping members 4() adjacent the supporting blocks47. To prevent the buckling of the glider' frame member 49 a block 51 isclamped between the clamping members 4() relative to the pin 41 with theupper end abutting the glider frame member 49.

The glider is readily mounted on or removed from the standards byremoving the bolts 34 to release the plate 35 and the right hand pair ofstandards 25, 26 from plate 83 to permit the swinging of said right handpair of standards away from the vehicle and allow the removal of theunderframe and carriage portions of the glider in a lateral directionafter disconnecting the glider from the bracket 38 by the removal of thepivot supporting pin 41.

To facilitate trie glider to attain an elevated flying position thesupporting frame 17 is counterweighed by weights 52 having posts 53fixed in and extended therefrom for the engagement of additional weights54 retained on the posts by nuts threaded thereon, as shown in Figures 8and 8, to variably counterweigh the frame. The weight 52 is mounted onthe frame members 17 by shaft members 55 engaged in bores through theweights 52 and of a diameter to be engaged within the tubular framemembers 17 as shown in dotted lines in Figures 8 and 12. The framemembers 17 are pivotally mounted in proximity to the vehicle framemembers 16 so that the weights 52 and 54 Viave free swinging movement inparallel relation to the vehicle frame, as shown in Figure 3.

To limit the elevating movement of the glider supporting frame members17 under the influence of the glider to a position relative to thevehicle, in which position the glider will interfere with the forwardtravel of the vehicle with resulting damage to the glider and vehicle,and also possible injury to the glider pilot and driver of the vehicle,flexible means in the ferm of chains 56 are fastened at one end to thecross member 20 adjacent the frame members 17, as shown in ligure 13,with the opposite ends attached to coiled springs 57 connected to thevehicle frame members 16, which springs will absorb any sudden jerks orpull exerted on the chains by the inexperienced handling of the gliderby a novice glider pilot. The lengths of the chains are suliicient'topermit the rising of the frame member 17 to a height which willpermitthe free handling of the glider. Should the chains break under thestrain of the upward force created by the air currents on the glider theframe members 17 are prevented from assuming the undesirable verticalposition by fixed stops in the form of arms 58 fixed to the sides of thevehicle frame members 16 adjacent the drivers seat 82 of the vehicle andextended in an up'- ward oblique direction with the free ends bent atright angles in an outwardly direction and to an extent to engage theframe members 17, as shown in Figure 3. The length of the arms 58 issuch that the members 17 will not be engaged thereby in the ful extendedposition of the chains.

To limit the downward movement of the frame members due to the slowingdown or stopping of the vehicle and prevent damage to the vehicle,pivoted frame 17 and the glider, resilient or cushioning means areprovided comprising a pair of supporting resilient strips 59 of S shapemounted on a cross member 60 of the vehicle frame members 16 positionedadjacent the anchorage for the springs 57 with the lett hand member,looking at liigure 11, extended as an inverted letter S, and the freeends of the strips secured to and carrying a horizontally extendingmember 6l arranged with pads G2 of shock absorbing material, such asrubber or cork, for the engagement of the frame members 17, as shown indotted lines in Figure 11. To further cushion the downward movement ofthe pivoted frame and prevent breakage of the supporting means 59 due toa forceful impact of the piveted trame against the pads 62, a pair et'resilient strips 63 are fixed on a cross member 64C of the vehicle framemembers 1G adjacent the rear ends, said strips 63 being extended fromthe cross member and the tree ends bent reversely to til-shape andhaving pads G5 secured thereto, similar to the pads 62, to be engaged bythe glider supporting iframe members 17 should the members 59 be flexedbeyond their normal supporting position.

To prevent the tail portion. of the glider forcedly hitting the groundduring the descent thereot and to yieldingly support said tail portionin the normal inactive position of the glider, a pair of' leaf springsGG are provided having one end bent at an angle and fixed to the framemembers 16 by yoke members 67 embracing said spring ends and framemembers, the opposite free ends of the springs extending in an upwarddirection and fixedly connected to each other by a bow shaped member 63,with the bowed portion extending in a downward direction, as shown inFigure 10. To absorb the impact of the glider frame against the bowedmember G8 a strip of flexible material 69, such as leather, is stretchedbetween the 'free ends of the springs 66 above the bowed member G3 andsecured thereto at the ends by clamping members having curved lateralextensions 70 bolted to said bowed members. The curved extensions 7 Oalso limit the lateral movements of the tail portion of the glider.

Due to the inexperience of the pilot or sudden. air currents the glidermay be violently banked upon the pivot 39 whereby the tips of the gliderwings would come into contact with the ground causing damage to thewings and possibly turning over the vehicle with considerable damage tothe glider and vehicle. 'To overcome this disadvantage the lateralmovement of the glider is yieldingly limited by a pair of rods 71pivotally carried at the upper ends of the standards 25, 26 by anglebrackets fastened to the connecting portion of the angle plate of. theleft hand pair of standards and to the connecting plate 35 of the righthand pair of standards and pins passed transversely through the bracketsand rods, as at 72 with the free lower ends of said rods slidablyengaging and guided in restricted channels formed by elongated U members73 having laterally extending end portions 74; fastened to the verticalangle portion of the cross member 20, the lateral movements of the rods71 being limited by the horizontally extending angle portion of' thecross member 20, as shown in Figure 13. As the glider tilts on the pivot39 in banking the lower frame members carrying the skid of the gliderwill abut against either rod 71, depending in which direction the glideris banked, after it has been banked beyond a predetermined angle, andfurther banking movement of the glider is yieldingly retarded by a pairof springs 75, 7 6 of different length and power, both springs of each`pair of springs being secured at one end to posts 77 fixed to the crossmember 20, the short springs 76 by flexible means, as chains 7 9, andthe opposite ends having hook portions 73 for releasable connection tothe rods 71. Due to the difl'erent tension spring arrangement theresistance to the banking movement increases in proportion to theincrease in the lateral inclination of the glider. The banking movementof the glider is limited by the 'free ends of the rods abutting theouter leg portions of the U members 73, he .force of the impact beingabsorbed by blocks 30 of suitable material, such as rubber or cork,mounted at said outer portions between the members 73 and the crossmember 20, as shown in Figure 13.

The tilting movement of the glider upon its transverse axis on its pivotsupport 4:1 is limited by engagement ofthe clamping members el() withthe bottom portion of the bracket bifurcation 38.

lt will be obvious that the flying machine, either a glider or motordriven aeroplane will be actuated into flying position by the forwardtravel of the ground vehicle, it having been found that a speed ofapproximately twenty-ve miles per hour `is necessary to create enoughair pressure to lift an ordinary glider, in. which fiying position itmay be operated as in actual flight due to the universal mounting 37,38, which permits the glider to hang or be suspended freely with thecenter of gravity below the universal mounting thereby maintaining theflying machine in proper position without actuating the controls ortaking into consideration the effect of air currents. The universalmounting of the glider also permits the pilot to Jfreely actuate theailerons and elevators with a limited movement of the vertical rudderdue to the greater width of the bifurcated bracket 38 relative to theclamping` members d0.

To assist a student pilot in the manipulation ot the various controls hemay be coached by an experienced pilot or instructor carried by theground vehicle by providing a seat 8l mounted adjacent the seat 82 otthe driver and facing toward the pilot seated in the flying machine.

Having thus ydescribed my invention, I claim.

l. ln a training device for flying machines, a carrier adapted to bepropelled, a flying machine, and a support for the flying machine on thecarrier to permit the iiying machine to have ascending movements underthe influence ot the lifting forces ot the air on the flying machineinduced by the travel thereof with the carrier.

2. In a training device for ilying machines, a motor propelled vehicle,a ilying machine, and a frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle andarranged to universally support the fiying machine whereby the flyingmachine is moved away from the vehicle under the influence of thelifting forces of the air on the ying machine during the travel thereof'with the vehicle.

3. n a training device for iiying machines, a motor propelled groundvehicle, a flying machine, a frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle andarranged to universally support the flying machine whereby the iiyingmachine may move away from the vehicle under the influence of thelifting forces of the air on the flying machine during the travelthereof with the vehicle, and means carried by the vehicle to limit themovement ot the frame away from the vehicle.

Ll. A training device for flying machines as claimed in claim l, whereinthe support for the flying machine in the lowermost position thereof isadapted to extend. parallelly to the carrier and the fiying machine issupported by the carrier in the lowermost position of the support.

5. ln a training device for glider pilots, a motor propelled vehicle, aglider, a frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle and arranged to supportthe glider, the frame extending in a plane substantially parallel to thevehicle in the inoperative position thereof and adapted to move in adirection away from the vehicle under the influence of the lifting torceof the air on the glider during the travel of the vehicle, and meanscarried by the vehicle for engagement and support of the frame andglider in the inoperative position of the frame.

6. In al training device for glider pilots, a motor propelled vehicle, aglider, a frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle and arranged to supportthe glider, and means carried by the vehicle to engage and support theframe in the inoperative position thereof, and the frame being adaptedto move in an upward direction away trom the vehicle under the influenceof the glider during the travel of the vehicle.

7. In a training device for glider pilots, a motor driven' vehicle, aglider, a trame comprising parallel members pivotally mounted at one endon the vehicle, and standards carried by the frame members and adaptedto support the glider and permit of control of the movements of theglider, and the p0rtions of the frame members carrying the standardsadapted to be moved with the glider away from the vehicle under theinfluence of the glider during the travel of the vehicle.

8. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe standards are pivotally connected to the frame members on axesextending parallelly of the frame members.

9. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe stand: yds are arranged in pairs and one pair carried by each framemember to converge toward the free ends, and means to releasably connectthe standards at tne free ends.

10. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe standards are carried at the ends of the trame mem.- bers oppositeto the pivotal support thereof on the vehicle.

ll. In a training device for glider pilots, a motor driven vehicle, apair of parallel frame members pivotally mounted on the vehicle to havemovement on an axis extending transversely of the vehicle, standardscarried by and extended in an upward direction from the frame members,and a bracket pivotally connected to .the free ends of lthe standards onan axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle and adapted to pivotailysupport the glider to have movement with said bracket and on an axisextending transversely of the pivotal connection between the bracket andstandards to permit of free control of the movements of the glider, andthe frame members being adapted to be actuated in an upward directionaway from the vehicle under the influence of the glider during thetravel of the vehicle.

12. In a training device for glider pilots, a motor driven vehicle.v aglider, a frame having a pair of parallel connected members pivotallymounted on the vehicle, standards carried by and extended in an upwarddirection from the frame members, a bracket pivotally connected to thetree ends oi the standards to have movement on an axis extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle, and a glider support pivotally mounted onthe bracket on an axis extending transversely of the pivotal connectionbetween the bracket and standards and connected to the glider, and theframe members being adapted to be actuated in an upward direction awayirom the vehicle under the inlluence ol the glider.' during the travelor the vehicle.

13. A training` device 'for glider pilots as claimed in claim 12,wherein the glider support comprises a pair of members clamped to andsuspended `from the glider' frame and pivotally supported by thebracket.

14. A. training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe glider support comprises a pair ot members clamped` to the glideri'rame and suspended by straps encircling a part of the glider frame andblocks interposed between the clamp members in abutting relation to apart of the glider frame.

15. ln a training device lor glider pilots, a motor driven vehicle, aglider, a Yl'rame embodying a pair 0l parallel members pivotally mountedon thc vehicle, standards carried by the trame members to extend in anupward direction therc'jrom, means supported by the 'free ends of thestandards to support the glider to have universal movcment, and meanscarried by the standards adapted to be engaged by the glider to limitthe banking movements thereof.

16. A training device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means to limitthe banking movements of the glider' comprises rods pivotally suspendedat one end from the glider support and the opposite ends movabletransversely and relative to abutments carried by the frame members.

17. ln a training device for glider pilots, a motor driven vehicle, aglider, a trame embodying a pair of parallel members extendinglongitudinally of and pivotally supported adjacent one end of thevehicle and arranged with counterweights at one side of and adjacent thepivot supports, standards carried by the frame members at the oppositeside of the pivot support of said members and arranged at the free endsto support the glider to have universal movement, and resilientabutments liXed to the vehicle to engage and support the lrame members'adjacent the standards when the vehicle is not moving.

18. ln a training device for glider pilots, a motor driven vehicle, aglider, a frame embodying a pair' of parallel members pivotally mountedon the vehicle, standards pivotally carried by the frame members toextend in an upward direction therefrom, means releasably connecting thefree upper ends of' the standards and adapted to universally support theglider', a cross member secured to the frame members relative to thestandards and having recessed portions therein, and rods pivotallycarried at one end by the standard connecting means and the Oppositeends slidably engaging the recessed portions of the cross member, andeach rod arranged at opposite sides oi the glider to be engaged therebyduring and limiting the banking movements thereof..

19. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 18, whereinthe rods are yieldingly urged toward each other to stabiliZe the banking.movements of the glider'.

20. A. training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe glider engaging means on the vehicle comprises a pair oiE flexiblemembers carried by the :trame of the vehicle, and a rigid cross memberiixed to the flexible members for engagement of the frame of the gliderin the inoperative position thereof.

1. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe glider engaging means on the vehicle comprises a pair of flexiblemembers carried by the irame el the vehicle, a res"ient member snspendedbetween the 'flexible members for engagement and control the descent otthe glider to its inoperative position, and rigid cross member fixed tothe flexible niiembers and extended below the resilient member tosupport the glider in its inoperative position.

22. A training device for glider pilots as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe brac {etis arranged with bifurcations extending in oppositedirections and transversely of each other, one of said bifurcationsembracing and pivotally connected to the upper ends oit the standards,and the other bifurcation pivot-ally connected to the glider to permitof Jr'ree ascending, descending and banking movements ot the glider.

23. A training device for flying machines as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flying machine is carried by the support whereby in the inoperativeposition thereof the machine extends at an angle inclined to thehorizontal from the rear to the 'front and in the flying positionextends in a substantially horizontal plane.

Signed at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State ofPennsylvania, this 26th day of January, 1931.

HARRY Gr. TRVER.

